Author Topic: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs? (Read 39738 times)

Whysoserious · « **on:** December 16, 2011, 04:52:06 PM »

I have been throwing 15 lbs for a while now and I have been doing a lot of weight training recently so I figured I would try a 16 lb ball. Will I lose revs moving up? The ball I bought is pretty strong (Nano Pearl drilled 4x4x2) and it is not as strong as I have suspected. Is this due to the weight increase?

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« **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2011, 07:21:05 AM »

My experience with many bowlers over the years is that they release the 15s better. It would defy logic to think that someone's rev rate would be the same using a heavier ball.

Having said that, rev rate is often misunderstood. The key is to match up the rev rate with the bowler's ball speed and conditions. Too many revs with slow speed is hard to control, while too few revs with high speed is also tough. Lane conditions are also an important part of the equation.

By moving up in weight you have probably lost a few revs, but try moving further closer to friction, or knock a little gloss off the cover to see if that gives you more forgiveness on the lane.

We drill VERY FEW 16 lb. balls anymore. Even the most physically gifted bowlers seem to gravitate towards 15s because the reasons I mentioned earlier regarding their release, and they have the exact same core as the 16s.

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

aussiedave · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2011, 08:05:09 AM »

Makes sense about the 16 - 15lb theory.

Ball technology today has come a long way from the "16 pound is best" days.

I know of bowlers who use 14lbs with great success - averaging well over 200.

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strikeking · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2011, 02:37:04 PM »

As I get older I find that 16# carries better than the lighter balls except on very dry lanes. I think it is because I no longer can really "crank it" and the speed is slower. The extra weight makes up for this loss. You have to have a balance of speed and revs to get the right amount of deflection or you will consistantly leave corner pins. Example: Big crankers with a heavy ball get no deflection and leave corner pins. Straight ball bowlers with a light ball get too much deflection and leave corner and five pins. The "perfect" strike was once described as the ball hitting the 1,3, 5 and 9 pins. Exception is the "helicopter" bowler who must have a lot of revs and a lot of deflection.

Strikeking

spmcgivern · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2011, 06:42:14 AM »

One thing I have noticed when working with bowlers is how the weight of their ball affects their wrist at the bottom of the swing. Moving to a 16 pound ball will generate more downward force in the bottom of the swing and can cause the wrist to "break" more than a 15 pound ball. This is especially apparent during the final game of league or tournament.

Even though you have been working out, you need to be working on your wrist strength and making sure you get in a good position at release. If you have a camera, video yourself from behind and from the side and see the difference between balls of both weights on your wrist.

I am not a pro-bowler, but I do play one on BallReviews.com

txbowler · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2011, 11:19:28 AM »

I think it is different from bowler to bowler. I personally throw 15 & 16 equipment. And even have thrown 15 on one lane and 16 on another lane because I wanted different surface reactions and my older 16 lb ball is no longer available so I cannot get it in a 15. I feel I can generate a bit more ball speed with the 15, but at times I have intentionally switched to a 16 to slow the ball down a bit. It allows me to use the slight weight difference to control a weakness in my game at times. I have not really seen any carry difference between the 2 weights.

dw23 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2011, 11:55:43 AM »

I find that 16 pounds works better for me on fresh lanes with any decent volume up front or in the middle of the lane. When the lanes break down and I have to go left for long format tournaments 15's come into play. Took me a while to realize this because I thought I should use 1 weight all of the time and just make it work on the conditions I struggled on. So now I carry 4 16lb balls and 2 15lb balls to tournaments.

DW

Metal_rules · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2011, 12:06:16 PM »

I just switched over to all 15lb balls, except for my spare ball. i started to switch over back march of this year. i feel that the 15's are much more comfortable to throw and cause less pain in my hand. i do not see a problem in hit from either of the 2. and i believe i get more revs with a 15. all manufactors gear balls for 15 lb. i am happy i made the move.

sabman · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2011, 12:49:32 AM »

I just got my first 16# (16lb 0oz) ball and I didn't really feel that much difference in weight. I try to keep a nice free swing. I guess you could say the weight difference is negligible for me personally. You should just try it, because opinions will go both ways on this particular subject. One thing that made me want try it is that a lot of top pros are throwing 16#s now.

I'll share some info I heard on Xframe this WSOB. Somebody asked this question and the "Bowling Doctor" commented that just a couple years ago it was probably 90/10 on tour for 15#s, but now it's probably 60/40. He mentioned something about 15#s having a tendency to hydroplane off the pattern more than 16's (His words, but IMO maybe it's not an issue on THS with all the friction available). Chris Barnes was asked if he ever throws 15#s, and he said that 15#s and 16#s feel the same to him after bowling for two weeks with either weight, so he doesn't understand why he would give up the extra pound.

Having said that, I also have a 14# Storm Street Rod that I'll bring out every once in a while, and it seems to score and carry very well on the right conditions. Actually one day I probably threw more messengers than I ever have a single night with that 14# ball so go figure...

Edited by sabman on 12/22/2011 at 1:57 AM

dw23 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2011, 02:46:33 AM »

I asked CB that question on Xtraframe and was surprised by his answer. I guess it makes sense but on those lighter oil conditions where I see him get roll out and tap I just thought it may give him a little more at the pins. What do I know, he is the world champion.

It has worked for me so far in PBA League but I haven't bowled a regional or PBA event to test it. I will this year.

sabman wrote on 12/22/2011 1:49 AM:
I just got my first 16# (16lb 0oz) ball and I didn't really feel that much difference in weight. I try to keep a nice free swing. I guess you could say the weight difference is negligible for me personally. You should just try it, because opinions will go both ways on this particular subject. One thing that made me want try it is that a lot of top pros are throwing 16#s now.

I'll share some info I heard on Xframe this WSOB. Somebody asked this question and the "Bowling Doctor" commented that just a couple years ago it was probably 90/10 on tour for 15#s, but now it's probably 60/40. He mentioned something about 15#s having a tendency to hydroplane off the pattern more than 16's (His words, but IMO maybe it's not an issue on THS with all the friction available). Chris Barnes was asked if he ever throws 15#s, and he said that 15#s and 16#s feel the same to him after bowling for two weeks with either weight, so he doesn't understand why he would give up the extra pound.

Having said that, I also have a 14# Storm Street Rod that I'll bring out every once in a while, and it seems to score and carry very well on the right conditions. Actually one day I probably threw more messengers than I ever have a single night with that 14# ball so go figure...

Edited by sabman on 12/22/2011 at 1:57 AM

DW

JustRico · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2011, 07:12:28 AM »

To answer 2 questions here...one the difference between a 15 & 16 and the other being the reaction the poster got from his Nano.

First of all, taking everything into consideration, when equating weight in regards to the swing, G-force need to be considered. If the ball is swung freely, from the apex or the top of the swing plane, on average the bowling ball will pick up 3 to 4Xs due to G-force, which translates to a 15lb ball becomes 45-60lbs depending on acceleration...thus a 16lb ball becomes 48-64lbs. Proper ball weight should be dictated by the ability to swing the ball freely without muscle. Muscle tends to create deceleration, deceleration creates improper pin carry.

As far as the poster's reaction in his Nano...a 4 X 4 X 2 is a fairly strong layout....which in turns creates a high amount of flare, which can also possibly create over-flaring as well as a reaction more front to back. If you were looking for more of a down lane reaction, one surface dictates length and 2 going with a pin closer to 5" would minimize early flare.

The views and opinions expressed by myself are solely those of mine and NO one else, nor are they affiliated with anyone else.

spencerwatts · « **Reply #11 on:** September 22, 2014, 04:17:33 PM »

Apparently, 15 pounds is the weight of choice for the vast majority of bowlers, and bowlers like me who have used and continue to use 16 pounds are almost seen as dinosaurs. I've not used a 15 pound ball since I was in high school and, barring injury or advanced geezerdom (age), I don't see any reason for me going to a lighter weight.

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2014, 12:50:17 PM »

As a softer speed lefty I carry in some centers way better with 16 than 15. These centers have deeper gutters, deader sidewalls and deader older pins.

Years ago on a very sloppy backend shot our only 16 pound lefty shot his average in other houses while the 15 pound flingers went down an average of over 8 pins across a group of about 8 to 10 lefty 210 plus bowlers.

Regards,

Luckylefty

avabob · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2014, 01:04:08 PM »

All other things being equal, you will generate more ball speed and more revs at 15lb than at 16. If you are already a higher rev player with good revs using 16 you aren't going to gain anything, nor will you lose anything going to 15. However in the modern game, there is so much more friction between ball and lane that more ball speed helps prevent early burn, even if the rev rate increases along with the ball speed. The majority of bowlers need the added revs and ball speed. It is the added revs, releasing energy at the optimum time due to added ball speed that makes a 15 lb ball hit as hard as a 16.

spencerwatts · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2014, 03:26:11 PM »

I suspect many of this era's bowlers who are said to be high rev players using their 14- and 15-pound equipment don't have proper bowling mechanics -- at least what was considered proper mechanics when I began taking bowling more serious in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Thus, many have more wrist and shoulder issues than those of us who learned how to use our legs, as well as to lift (and as applicable, loft), extend, and then post-up our shots.

It would seem that using 16-pound equipment -- man weight as these bowlers call it -- would force them to be much more sound in their mechanics and reduce the chance of suffering injuries.

Author Topic: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs? (Read 39738 times)

Whysoserious

Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

aussiedave

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

strikeking

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

spmcgivern

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

txbowler

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dw23

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

Metal_rules

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

sabman

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dw23

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JustRico

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spencerwatts

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

LuckyLefty

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

avabob

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?

spencerwatts

Re: Is there really that much of a difference between 15 lbs and 16 lbs?